The band was formed by Stephan Groth and Jon Erik Martinsen in 1989. Of the songs they wrote together, "Ashes To Ashes" would later be released as a 12-inch single on the Norwegian label Tatra Productions in 1991. Martinsen left the band due to creative differences.
Name
The name "Apoptygma Berzerk" has no particular meaning; frontman and founding member Stephan Groth claims that it was randomly picked out of a dictionary.
Style
The first two albums, Soli Deo Gloria and 7, were a similar style of electropop and EBM. Welcome to Earth eschewed the dark themes of 7 for a lighter, less aggressive sound, and included a few experimental tracks. Harmonizer featured a softer, more synthpop-oriented direction when compared to previous albums, and their 2006 album, You and Me Against the World, represented an almost complete change in style for the band. It featured a more mainstream, indie rock-oriented sound, and the complete departure from the band's traditional electric synthpop and EBM roots that started with 7. With the release of latest album Rocket Science apop still going on the rock vibe while keeping close with synthpop sound like its predecessor YAMATW. Many albums feature a hidden track that can be accessed by fast forwarding through many minutes of silence on the last album track. For instance, on 7, one can hear a remix of Nonstop Violence after Love Never Dies . The band also features cover songs on several of their albums. For example, on the American version of 7 a cover of OMD's "Electricity" is featured; similarly, Welcome to Earth features a cover of Metallica's "Fade to Black". You and Me Against the World has a cover of "Cambodia" by Kim Wilde and "Shine On" by The House Of Love. They have also recorded covers of Depeche Mode's Enjoy the Silence, Suede's Trash, Keane's Bend And Break, Kraftwerk's Ohm Sweet Ohm and Marilyn Manson's "Coma White". Most recently, they have covered Peter Schilling's Major Tom.
Members
Current members
Stephan Groth – vocals, programming, guitar, samples
Per Aksel Lundgreen joined Apoptygma Berzerk in 1990, and remained an active member until 1994. He has since pursued numerous other musical projects, most recently joining Rossetti's Compass as a permanent member in March 2013. Anders Odden has been the most reoccurring member of Apop, joining in the live lineup in the early 1990s, and reappearing several times during the next 15 years, both live and in the studio. Geir Bratland also joined in the first part of the 1990s. In 1999, Fredrik Darum and Ted Skogman joined the band for the Welcome To Earth album and world tour. In 2001, Fredrik and Ted were replaced with Fredrik Brarud and Angel. The 2006 release You And Me Against The World and 2009's Rocket Science, are the only albums to feature other persons than main man Stephan as part of the band. In July 2009 Angel, Geir and Fredrik departed from the Apoptygma Berzerk lineup. In August 2009, Brandon Smith confirmed that he was joining the band on guitar for the US and Canada legs of the upcoming tour. source- www.theanix.com Brandon wrote on the forum saying, "This is just going to be a test run type of tour, to see how well Apop does in the US, Canada, and South America. I will be playing guitar for them on this tour." On September 3, 2009, Stephan wrote on the official site: In 2010, Leandra Ophelia Dax stood in for Jonas during the support tour for German band Unheilig. In 2011, Thomas Jakobsen was replaced by Ted Skogman, and Angel came back, replacing Brandon.
